“Politicians’ obsessions with making schools and colleges more vocational in character are unlikely to lift the economy. . . .Schools should be focusing on. . . human skills, as well as ethical reasoning. Wall Street’s meltdown, linked to shady lending practices, reveals the moral bankruptcy of huge segments of the market. Yet political leaders now urge our children to quietly fill-in bubble tests, seeking only to become productive cogs in a broken wheel.”

Bruce Fuller, professor of education and public policy. New York Times, Oct. 22

“[I]nadequate medical care is responsible for far more deaths in 33 prisons than the underemployed executioner at San Quentin.”

David Wagner, professor of computer science, on the level of encryption that would be entailed in any successful “verified voting” system.Salon, Oct. 23

“What’s going on now is dramatically different than in 2000 and 1987. What’s different is that people have seen the possibility that markets could fail them and that they could do everything they were supposed to do — everything they were told to do — and still not have what they need in retirement.”

Terrance Odean, professor of finance, on the psychology of investors during this market turndown.Los Angeles Times, Oct. 22

“After closing X-number of plants, eliminating, say, 30,000 to 50,000 jobs, my sense is that the UAW might not be in the best of moods to give further concessions.”

Harley Shaiken, professor of education and geography, on the likelihood of autoworkers offering to renegotiate their contract with a combined GM/Chrysler entity should that rumored merger come about.Detroit Free Press, Oct. 20

“What we have now is a historic and broadly based consensus. And that’s too precious to let slip.”

Raymond Seed, professor of engineering, on a report from California’s Delta Vison Task Force that attempts to strike a balance between further water development in the state and the interests of conservationists and environmentalists. Sacramento Bee, Oct. 18

“The rules are overbroad, rushed and possibly illegal. Given the timing of the proposed changes, it’s clearly an effort by the administration to weaken the regulations before President Bush leaves office.”

Eric Biber, professor of law, on a proposed federal rule change that would exempt regulatory agencies from consultation with wildlife experts on the potential impacts of greenhouse gases on endangered species.McClatchy Newspapers, Oct. 14